Establishing An Oppertunity For Global Trade

[RosenVitae]

Greetings everyone.

As a seasoned merchant in Massivecraft, I've always found the accessible market stagnant.
I've experienced the difference between having a shop in my faction town market, and then having a shop in spawn - more people means more business, simple as that. While it will forever be the most lucrative position to have shops at spawn, where most people are, I'm interested in breathing life into as many faction marketplaces as possible, in the shiny, sparkling, golden (silvery?) name of Business!

The general idea is to create an easily accessible portal center (with a portal from spawn/prosperia or similar) where each interested faction can maintain a portal to their faction marketplace. Ofcourse, some factions may prefer not giving enemies easy access to the heart of their faction. A solution to this could be to keep this business in an enclosed shop or a new marketplace outside their city walls.

BENEFITS would include:
- The more factions participating, the more players around the world hears of it and now has easy access as customers.
- or potential members, since they get an oppertunity to see your faction.
- Giving small/new players with shops in your faction a higher count of customers.
- (the community may spot more potential benefits).

RISKS (and solutions) could include:
- Enemies have easy access to my faction (you can keep your portal in a building with a door that could be closed in case of a raid, or your faction could facilitate a new marketplace to avoid being vulnerable).
- Customers are vulnerable to attack from anyone (Customers could browse the market before buying or bringing goods, or hire a guard to protect them. Factions could also have guards available to protect customers).
- (I need the community to spot more of these).

From the start, the method will be the simple one:
- A simple open oppertunity for any interested factions to join or leave with no rules (simply knowing the benefits and risks, and not scaring away the customers).
or
- Establishing a Trade Coalition (an official document of agreements, defined and signed by any interested factions, whom must then support and adhere to the coalition to enjoy the benefits).

In case of majority voting for a coalition, the following paragraphs would become valid:
All signing factions will agree to support the neutral coalition, which contains the goals (the above benefits) and clear limits in case of disputes (see below).
The community will help define and refine the contents. Once the debate nolonger proves useful to improve the coalition, it will be written and finally accept signatures from faction leaders. This will be celebrated on a grand scale (lots of cake and fireworks! Yaaay!).
Once established and signed, it's in my complete interest as initiator to arbit and enforce the coalition between any and all signed factions.

- Code of conduct between enemies (allowing peaceful business or forbid them entry) will be discussed and added.
- Penalties for violation against the coalition while signed will be discussed and added.
- Policy for emergency militia provided by signed factions in case of raids or violations will be discussed and added.
- More will be added as necessary.

 

[atticusmas]

Yes. ALL OF MY YES.

 

[illogicalleaf314]

Edit:Thought this was in suggestions and complaints, spaced out. Sorry. >.>

 

[ulumulu1510]

Although I think it's a good idea...With Regalia you plan needs some rethinking. Since you may not put portals into a merchant house, the portal has to be elsewhere. We did not speak about portals in regular houses, but since it adds a merchant mechanic to this house, it's not allowed....
If you want this for silveredge, go ahead!

 

[RosenVitae]

Although I think it's a good idea...With Regalia you plan needs some rethinking. Since you may not put portals into a merchant house, the portal has to be elsewhere. We did not speak about portals in regular houses, but since it adds a merchant mechanic to this house, it's not allowed....
If you want this for silveredge, go ahead!

Click to shrink...

I fully understand.

I would love to have a portal in Silver Edge for the time being, could it be arranged?
Since what I'm aiming for is an expanded and visible market, having a portal (if allowed) in prosperia could also go a long way, since people who come there are looking for more shops, albeit its less visible. I don't own a plot in prosperia, but would like to if one is available (if I can't find a place in Silver Edge).

Depending on how well this oppertunity is used and endorsed by players in the future, perhaps the staff might come up with an idea that can help connect Regalia to the portal centre (I could buy a ship, but I see that the Regalia dock is full).

 

[Gilmania]

We'd be very interested in this, and have thought about establishing something similar already.

 

[Dragonwaz]

I would wholeheartedly support this and love to be a part of it.

 

[RosenVitae]

I'm glad to see that there are people who would like to use this. Now, a few days after posting, I've decided the following:

- I will create a new faction for the centre, which will be placed somewhere nice. This faction only serves to protect the building and won't have any members beside management. Anyone enemying the faction simply denounce their right to maintain a portal to their own marketplace.
- Whenever the centre stands complete, it will start seeing use right away by anyone interested. If time shows us that a coalition is necessary (that is, factions find themselves in problems, even if they can close a door to their side of the portal to prevent raids), an initiative to form a coalition will be made.

I've updated the RISK section: Enemies have easy access to my faction (you can keep your portal in a building with a door that could be closed in case of a raid, or your faction could facilitate a new marketplace to avoid being vulnerable).

 

[Gilmania]

Ya, we were thinking of having portals spread throughout trade partners' lands that lead to our shops, but then have that portal remain in a locked building that only truced or allied factions could use. That could help limit raids, particularly if you contractually bind those factions to not fighting other patrons nor opening the door for raiders. You'd reduce your foot traffic, but maybe you wouldn't in the long run since it would be a safer shopping experience. At any rate, I'd love to be involved in both preparation and participation.

 

[Dragonwaz]

I'd put the trade house in a locked Building only accessible via piston doors